Kurdish teenager assaulted in apparent hate crime in London

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A 17-year-old Kurdish asylum seeker was beaten up by a group of people in London after they asked him his nationality when he was waiting at a bus stop in south London on Sunday, British media has reported.

The teenager, from Iranian Kurdistan, and two friends were beaten up while a large crowd watched. Six people have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, the BBC reported.

"There was a massive group coming up from The Goat pub,” BBC quoted an eyewitness as saying. "There was a group of roughly 10 people kicking and punching him and the rest, another 10 or 20, were all just around watching.”

The teenager, who has not been identified, is in hospital in critical condition. His two friends suffered minor injuries.

The attack has been condemned by a number of UK politicians, among them Labour party leader Jeremy Corybn.

Absolutely shocked at attack on young Kurdish asylum seeker, who came here searching for safety. I fervently hope he makes a full recovery.